Blood and Fainting Spells

I have always wanted to donate blood. When I was in college, I kept trying to donate but I was told that I was ineligible because I was underweight (those were the days hahaha)

When I started working and gained a LOT of pounds, there was one time that I was able to join a blood donation drive sponsored by the company. Our whole team donated over lunch and all except me felt sluggish and tired after that. I was feeling normal, maybe even hyped as it was my first time after many previous attempts.

Our office was a good 15 minute walk to SM Megamall. Your dad and I meet there after work so we can ride the van home together.

So after my work, I headed to Megamall to wait for your dad. But when I arrived there, I was feeling faint and very weak. I had to sit at one of the al fresco tables of a fastfood chain to catch my breath. I was able to send a quick text to your dad, telling him how I feel, but I felt that I was already about to collapse so I told a lady sitting at the table next to me to please call the guard. I do not want to faint without anyone looking after me and my things as I had my phone and other valuables with me.

The lady did call the guard, who came in rushing with a wheelchair to bring me to the mall clinic. At first, I just plopped myself down and brought my things. But as soon as he started wheeling me through the mall, it was as if bumalik ang ulirat ko. I do not want to be pushed on a wheelchair, nakakahiya! I told him I could walk, but ofcourse he's not buying it.

We reached the clinic and a nurse started asking me what happened. I don't remember much of what happened here, except that I felt so embarassed being in the middle of a mall on a wheelchair!

A few minutes had gone and your dad arrived at the mall clinic to come pick me up. I was already okay at that time.

Since then, I never tried to give blood donations anymore. I still believe that it is fulfilling though, and that everyone should do it at least once in their life.

Have you donated blood recently? Any embarassing moments from that? Tell me all about it. I love you kids! :)

MacGyver and Sustaining Breastfeeding

I had my gall bladder removed last week. Unfortunately, I underestimated the procedure and thought I could go home after 24 hours. Wrong.

Because of this glitch, I only packed x number of bottles in preparation for the stay at the hospital. I figured I'd pump every 3 or 4 hours and then ask my anesthesiologist when can I resume breastfeeding. From our breastfeeding support group site, mothers were saying that women who underwent Cesarian Section delivery were allowed to breastfeed immediately. Seems logical. But I still had to confirm to ease my worries.

Remember I was pumping every 3-4 hours? Wrong move! Because of the increased time in between sessions, I was getting more milk and filling up my bottles faster than intended. By the time I was about to go to the operating room, I have filled up all the bottles that we brought. Uh oh.

When the anesthesiologist arrived in the Operating Room, I asked him if he was going to give me the same drug as what is used during childbirth. It wasn't. He said to wait for 24 hours before I actually breastfeed.

We waited, pumped and dumped (what a waste of milk, but better safe than sorry). After 24 hours, what to do now that we don't have bottles anymore? We thought that maybe Dad can go back home to get my milk storage bags. Kaya lang, I was really weak after the operation and needed help even with my personal businesses. So dad being away for more than 20 minutes does not seem feasible at that time.

That's when we shifted to MacGyver mode (this is the stuff of the 80s to 90s era hahaha) There was a nearby grocery store where dad bought zip-lock sandwich bags. It was the smallest size that he could find.

Zip-lock sandwich bags?? But these are...

• Not sterilized. May contaminate milk. Damn it, we are no longer sterilizing the bottles that Miko use at home. Pwede na yan.
• Not freezer safe. May rip when placed in freezer. We'll double up the bags. Pwede na yan.
• Not double zipped. May drip. Doble naman ang bags. Pwede na yan.

In the end, it was really pwede na since we had no other alternative. We even had different styles in packing the milk.

Dad was laying out the inner bag flatly inside the other one, then pour the milk into the two bags.

I poured the milk into one bag first, then jimmy the bag into the second one.

And that's how we survived sustaining breastfeeding even with no bottles. We were able to bring home about 900ml of milk for Miko! Thank God!

Want to hear more stories about my lap chole? I'll tell you in the next posts. :) I love you!

For Ate

I thank God for your forgiving nature and the gift of your smile. You make mama happy with your quirkiness and disposition.

We call this the no-face face.

Happy face

Angry face

Sad face

Crying face. No tears, but you sniff your nose as added effect.

Crazy face

Crazy face 2. I think you're pulling the skin off your face here. Creepy!

Big smile to end the photo session :)

I love you Ate, my only girl, Bebang, Achi. You are mommy's eternal sunshine.